According to the splash screen, I just received the Creators Update. A couple of icons appeared in the taskbar but were easily unpinned. So far, I've not seen any changes in my desktop or file explorer.

According to the spammy splash page, I just updated to the Fall Creators version. I did NOT connect my android phone to the pc using MS's new service and ignored all the other new features. The splash page worried me, but -so far- it hasn't crept onto my desktop though one new icon for "people" had to be deleted from the task bar.

[1] Try a Windows key sequence to wake the screen. If you have a keyboard connected, simultaneously press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. If you’re on a tablet, simultaneously press both the volume-up and volume-down buttons, three times within 2 seconds. If Windows is responsive, a short beep will sound and the screen will blink or dim while Windows attempts to refresh the screen.

I've been trying to figure out whether a repeating intermittent problem was router- or wifi-based signal issues, but that doesn't seem quite right as I can hear the laptop max out grinding away on something while it stalls. This might be it.